tomkinson



C. C. TOMKINSON DOOR July 3, 1.923. 1,460,687

Filed March 22 1.922 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'July 3, 1923. 1.460,687

C. C. TOMKINSON DOOR Filed March 22, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 auventozZZWLZW GHQ Mau Patented July 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

mm C. TOIKINSON, O! PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ABSIQHOB TO J. EDWARD OGDEN,OF HOUNTAINVILLE; NEW YORK.

nooal Toallwhomitmay concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES C. TOMKIN sort, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Plainfield. county of Union, and State of NewJersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Doors, ofwhich the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in door structures such as thoseused for closing large door openings in ier sheds, warehouses and placesof like c aracter.

Doors of this type usually comprise a plurality of door sections whichin opening are moved vertically and then laterally or inwardly to aninclined or horizontal position. By swinging the door sections to suchan inclined position, head room in the warshouses or pier sheds isconserved.

Because of their size and the exposed positions in which they areplaced, doors of the type described are subjected to unusual strains andpressures. such, for instance, as heavy wind pressures.

This invention has for its object to provide door mechanism of thecharacter de scribed so constructed and arranged as to withstand thesevere lateral pressures to which they are subjected.

Another object of the invention is to provide simple and effectivecounterbalancing mechanism and to so connect this mechanism to the doorthat the counter balancing means will assist in withstanding inwardlateral pressure against the door and will assist in retaining the doorin engagement with the door casing or jamb.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the followingspecification taken in connection with the drawings which form 9. art ofthis application and in which-- ig. 1 is a sectional elevation of a doorconstructed and counterbalanced in accordsince with the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing the doorsections in open position.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a portion of the structure shown in Fig. I.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation showing the overlapping doorsections and the link and chain connections thereof.

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation similar to Fig. 1 but showing anothersupporting and tilting structure. and

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showin the door sections in 0 enposition.

The objects of the invention are attained in the embodiments of theinvention described b providing an arrangement for guiding tlle sectionsas they move vertically and for tilting or swingin the sections inwardlyas they move in unison to open position. The counterbalancing means iscon nected to the doors in a manner to assist in raising the doors andis further so connected that a horizontal component of thecounterhalancing force will force the door against the door casing or'amb and thereby withstand any inward lateral pressure such as thatcaused by, wind.

Referring to the drawings, and first to Figs. 1-4 inclusive. I haveshown a door comprising a lower section 10 and an upper section 11, thelower section being guided in its vertical movement by the engagement ofrollers 12 carried at the lateral edges thereof with vertical tracks 13.The lower section is further guided by means of flanges 11 carried bythe upper door section and overlapping laterally extending flanges 15formed on or secured to the edges of the lower section 10.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1-4 inclusive, thetilting means for swinging the door sections inwardly consists of links16 pivoted at 17 to fixed brackets 18 secured to the door casing or wallof the building and pivoted at their opposite ends at 19 to brackets 20secured to the lateral edges of the upper door section 11 and extendinginwardly therefrom.

The counterbalancing means for the. door sections shown in Figs. 14comprises a single counterweight.21 which is connected to a sheave 522under which asses a cable or rope 23. One portion of this cable 23passes around a sheave 24 loosely mounted on a shaft 25 and is connectedas shown at 26 to a point on the bracket 20 and it should beparticularly noted that the oint 26 is laterally ofiset or spaced inwardv from the plane of the upper door section 11. The point 26 is alsopositioned in a plane between the upper and lower edges of the upperdoor section and adjacent the middle of this door section.

The opposite end of the cable or chain 23 p ses over a sheave 27 securedfast to the shaft 25 and from this sheave passes downwardly and isconnected as shown at 28 to the lower door section 10 adjacent the loweredge thereof.

The vertical location of the points of connection 26 and 28 of the endsof the cable or chain 23 to the door sections 11 and 10 respectively maybe varied if desired to vary the counterbalancing effect of the weight21.

The construction shown in Figs. 1-4 in elusive, operates in thefollowing manner. When the doors are in their closed )osition shown inFig. 1 they may be opened by a plying force to the shaft 25 in anysuitab e manner whereupon the sheave 27 will be rotated. This rotationwill cause the lower door section 10 to rise vertical] until thissection overlies the section 11. urther vertical movement of the lowerdoor section will cause brackets 29 carried by the upper edge of thissection to engage the upper door section whereupon the two sections willbe swun laterally and inwardly by the links 16 to t e inclined orhorizontal position shown in Fig. 2. When the door sections are closedparticular attention is directed to the fact that because of the spacingof the point 26 of connection between the chain 23 and the upper doorsection 11 from the plane of the upper door section, thecounter-balancing weight 21 will have a horizontal component of forcewhich will grass the upper door section against the o0! casing. Thisoutward pressure will effectively counteract or withstand any inwardpressure caused by the wind or other forces tendin to force the uppersection 11 away from t e door casing and therefore tending to supportthe upper door section from the lower door section.

In Figs. 5 and 6 another embodiment of the invention is illustrated andin this form of the invention the door sections 10 and 11 areconstructed in the same manner as in the embodiment already described.In Figs. 5 and 6 however, a track 30 is used for supporting and swingingthe door sections inwardlyto the horizontal position shown in Fig. 6.The upper door section 11 has formed on or secured thereto a pair ofbrackets 31 having projections or rollers 32 mounted thereon and therollers 32 are dis posed in the tracks 30.

In this instance a separate counterweight is provided for each doorsection. A counter weight 33 is secured to a cable or chain 34 whichpasses over a sheave 35 mounted in the bracket 36 and the opposite endof the cable 34 is secured to the lower door section 10 at a point 37shown as disposed adjacent the lower end of this section.

A counterweight 40 is connected to a cable 41 passing over a sheave 42mounted on the bracket 36 and the opposite end of this cable isconnected at shown at 43 to a bracket 44 secured to and extendinginwardly from the u per door section 11. It will be seen that e point 43is spaced inwardly from the plane of the upper door section andtherefore that the counterweight 40 will have a horizontal component offorce that will press the door section 11 against the door Although thedoor shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is shown only in elevation, it should beunderstood that a air of counterweights 33 and 40 is preferably providedat each edge of the door.

The construct-ion shown in Figs. 5' and 6 operates in substantially thesame manner as that shown in Figs. 1-4 and differs therefrom only inthatthe door sections will be swung laterally and inwardly by the tracks30 instead of by the links 16.

Although certain specific embodiments of the invention have beenparticularly shown and described, it will be understood that theinvention is capable of further modification and that further changes inthe construction and in the arrangement of the various cooperating partsmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the inventionas expressed in the following claims.

What I claim is 1. In combination, a door casing, a door havinghorizontally opposite parts arranged to move vertically, means forswinging the door inwardly as the vertically movable parts are raised,sheaves mounted substantially vertically above the door, and counterbalancing means including cables extending over said sheaves andconnected to sai door in a plane offset from the plane of the door whenthe door is closed whereby the portions of the cables between thesheaves and door connection will be inclined to the vertical and saidcount/erbalancin means will exert a horizontal force against the door toforce'the door against the door cas 2. n combination, a door casing, adoor having horizontally opposite parts arranged to move vertically.means for supporting and the door inwardly as t e vertically mova leparts are raised, sheaves mounted substantially vertically above thedoor, andconnter balancing means including cables extending over saidsheaves and connected to said door in a plane offset from the plane ofthe door when the door is closed whereby the portions of the cablesbetween the sheaves and door connections will be inclined to thevertical and said counter' balancing means will exert a horizontal forceagainst the door to force the door against the door casing.

3. In combination, a door casing, a door having horizontally oppositeparts arran tomove vertically, link means for swinging the door inwardlyas the verticall movable parts are. raised, sheaves mounte substantiallyvertically above the door, and counter balancin means including cablesextending over sai sheaves and connected to said door in a plane offsetfrom the plane of the door when the door is closed whereb thelportionsof the cables between the s caves and door connections will be inclinedto the vertical and said counter-balancing means will exert a horizontalforce against the door to force the door against the door casing.

4. In combination, a door casing, a door having horizontally oppositeparts arranged to move vertically,means for swinging the door inwardlyas the vertically movable parts are raised, sheaves mountedsubstantially vertically above the door, and counterbalancing meansincluding cables extending over said sheaves and connected to said door,intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and in a plane offsetfrom the lane of the door whereby the portions 0 the cables between thesheaves and door connections will be inclined to the vertical and saidcounterbalancing means will exert a horizontal force against the door toforce the door against the door casing.

5. In combination, a door casing, a door having horizontally oppositeparts arranged to move vertically, means for swinging the door inwardlyas the vertically movable parts are raised, sheaves mountedsubstantially vertically above the door, and counterbalancing meansincluding cables extending over said sheaves and connected to said doorin a plane inwardly s need from the plane of the door when the oor isclosed whereby the portions of the cables between the sheaves and doorconnections will be inclined to the vertical and said counterbal ancingmeans will exert a horizontal force. against the door to force the dooragainst the door casing.

6. In combination, a door casing, a door having a plurality of sectionsarranged to move vertically, means for swinging the door inwardly .asthe vertically movable sections are raised, sheaves mountedsubstantially vertically above the door, and counterbalancing meansincluding cables extending over said sheaves and connected to said doorin a plane offset from the plane of the door when the door is closedwhereby the portions of the cables between the sheaves and doorconnections will be inclined to the vertical and said counterbalaneingmeans will exert a horizontal force against the door 'to force the door,against the door easing.

7, A door comprising a pair 0 vertically and inwardly movable up andlower sections, means for suglporting and swinging said sections inwar yas the sections are raised, sheaves mounted substantially verticallyabove the door counterbalancing means, and operative connections betweensaid counterbalancing means and said sections, said means includingcables extending over said sheaves and connected to the lower sectionadjacent the lower ed thereof and to the upper section intermediate theupper and lower edges thereof and in a plane olfset from the plane ofthe door section when the door is closed.

8. A door comprising a pair of vertically and inwardly movable upper andlower sections, means for su porting and swinging said sections inwar ]yas the sections are raised, sheaves mounted vertically above said doorsections, counterbalancing means, and operative connections between saidcounterbalancing means and said sections, said means including a singlecounterweight, a sheave connected thereto and a cable passing around thecounterweight sheave and around said first mentioned sheaves andconnected to the lower section adjacent the lower edge thereof and tothe upper section intermediate the upper and lower edges thereof and ina plane offset from the plane of the door section when the door isclosed.

9. A door comprising a pair of vertically and inwardly movable up r andlower sections, means for supporting and swinging said sections inwardlyas the sections are raised, sheaves mounted vertically above said doorsections, counterbalancing means, and operative connections between saidcounterbalancing means and said sections, said means including a cableextending over said sheaves and connected to the lower section adjacentthe lower edge thereof and to the upper section intermediate the upperand lower edges thereof and in a plane spaced inwardly from the plane ofthe door section when the door is closed.

10. In combination, a door with two vertically and horizontally movablesections, and a shaft disposed vertically above the door by the rotationof which they are raised and moved laterally on the opening of the door,of a sheave fast to said shaft and a sheave loose thereon, acounterweight equal to the weight of both door sections carrying asheave and a. flexible element connected at one end to the bottom of thelower door section and at its other to substantially the middle of theupper section 1 th 1' v and a (point spaced inward y from e p ane no ofsai section when the door is closed.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 9th dayof March,1922.

CHARLES C. ToM INsoN.

' Witness:

- I. B. Moon.

